Heyy guys! So this chapter is a tad shorter, but the next one is coming out suuuuper long, so hopefully it'll work lol.
Loved all the reviews, and thanks for the concern! Feeling a little better now :)
August 1567
Elena gazed in annoyance at the book selection in front of her.
Her tutor had suggested she read at least two of them, to help her better understand the workings of politics.
At best, they'd probably just see her to sleep.
She pushed them aside, glad in the moment, that the library was empty, sans a few servants.
She needed the time to think alone.
And as usual, her thoughts turned to Damon.
She'd only spoken to him once since their whimsical night of passion, and before anything was really said, they were interrupted by a servant coming to call on her.
In the three days past, she hadn't caught a break.
King Salvatore was pressing in his insistence that she learn everything, and more, before the wedding, and eventually, the coronation.
As Aurelia's new queen, she was expected to be perfect.
A task she found quite straining, as each day passed.
Especially after catching a glimpse of Damon outside yesterday, shirtless, working to tame the black mare.
Even now, the thought of his muscles rippling, shining with the sweat that ran down his back, gave her a heated yearning, sending a chill down her spine.
But then, guiltily, she thought of Stefan.
It was unavoidable, her marriage to him.
Her father would refuse her backing out, as it would dishonor Mystic if she did, yet, she was sure that she'd never feel for the younger prince, what she felt when she was with Damon.
Stefan was to be her husband, but she didn't want him.
She wasn't even sure she could ease herself into the false contentment she'd adorned before.
Not when Damon had showed her what having more felt like.
She could never live with being simply content.
But there was no way out of this arrangement.
Talking to her father would only end in argument, and speaking such doubts to King Salvatore would possibly lead to her being sent from the castle.
And if she was made to leave, how would she gain opportunity to see Damon, and figure out her heart's desires?
So she'd play along, for now, and worry about the wedding when the time came.
She sighed, pulling one of the books closer to her.
After flipping through the pages, she slid it away again.
How was she supposed to find interest in this?
She stood, deciding to choose a book of better standing, now that her instructor wasn't breathing down her neck.
She wandered to grand staircase in the middle of the room, climbing to the second level, where the novels were kept.
She found those selections much more appealing.
Just as she reached for one with a thick, dark red cover, a hand touched her waist.
She knew who it was before his body came up against her back.
His lips grazed her neck.
She half moaned, half giggled as she breathed, "Damon."
He whirled her around, and she smiled against him, as he immediately placed his lips on hers.
"Damon," she started again, and he pulled away slightly.
"Shh," he warned, taking her hand, "We have but a moment."
He kissed her again, harder, before throwing a glance to the main floor below them.
It was still clear.
"Follow me?" he asked, and she nodded, breathless.
She'd find an excuse to tell the instructor later.
Damon led her quickly through the shelves, along the stacks, until they'd reached the back of the room, where he pinned her against the wall, placing a finger on her lips.
They listened carefully, but even the voices of the maids were muffled by distance.
Damon smiled, dropping his hand from her mouth.
"There," he huffed, "Now it is safe to speak."
Elena reached up and wound her fingers into his shirt, "I would not have us speak, while our lips could yet be occupied."
With little force, she brought his mouth back to hers, and he responded accordingly.
Her hands couldn't stop touching him, as they roamed freely over what had been denied her for days.
Damon smirked against her lips, trailing her jaw, "You are very eager, darling."
She moaned as he sucked her neck, teeth grazing, "I have been able to think of little else but you inside me since the night you sent me to my chambers."
He growled at her words, "Good. It has also proved difficult to rid memory of your thighs parting for me. Of tasting you, feeling you. It's pleasure beyond any previous experience."
She tilted her head back as he kissed across her collarbone, hands gripping her waist.
"You realize you needn't flatter me," she laughed, "I am willing enough to lie with you without such words to stroke ego."
Damon pulled away, smirking.
"You deny me the pleasure of boasting your perfection?"
She smiled, "I deny you only the time it takes to do so. Time better spent proving boasts."
Her hand came against his chest, and he dropped his forehead to hers.
"But that we had longer to prove them properly."
Elena rose a brow, "We will soon. If, of course, you do not disappear again."
He brought a hand up to her cheek.
"It wasn't my intent to postpone this reunion, princess. I would have come to you sooner, but was unable to find you alone."
She sighed, nodding, "It seems your father wishes my time well occupied. He has promised my father that he would continue to expand my education until the wedding."
"I don't envy you," Damon chuckled, straightening, "But I must admit, his persistence interferes with my desires."
Elena grinned as he took both her hands into his, "And what desires might those be?"
"Only my desire to have you with me," Damon taunted, "He urges your studies when I'd have you in my bed, learning things of a more...personal nature."
She laughed, "I do not imagine the king would quite support such enlightenment."
"It is doubtful," Damon reasoned.
Elena swallowed, "Then it seems we are faced with concerns."
Damon shook his head, "I would see concern lifted. Come to my chambers, tonight, in the tower. You remember the way?"
Elena nodded.
"Good," he pulled out a vial, "Take this before leaving your bed tonight. It will make it so you aren't discovered."
He placed it in her hand, "A potion?"
"A spell," he corrected, "For cloaking. You will be hidden until you reach my room."
She nodded, "I will come."
"And I will await you all day," he teased, leaning in to kiss her again.
Her lips had just parted for him, when her name rang through the quarter.
"Eleniana?"
It was loud, close, familiar.
Damon pulled away quickly, wiping his mouth.
Elena had just straightened her dress when Stefan rounded the corner.
"There you are," he greeted with a smile.
But as he stepped closer, he noticed Damon.
Elena was surprised by the change that immediately spread through her fiance.
"Damon."
Damon smirked beside her, as unaffected as always, "Brother."
"What are you doing here?" He asked coldly.
Damon smiled down at Elena, "I thought it rude not to introduce myself to your lovely bride-to-be."
Elena fought back the smirk tugging her lips, as she looked down at her feet.
Damon was convincing.
Stefan practically glared at him for a moment, before clearing his throat, "Your highness, please, excuse us."
Elena bowed expectedly, "Of course."
Her eyes flashed up to the eldest prince.
"It was nice to meet you, Damon."
He smirked, making a show of her departure, to further irritate Stefan.
He grabbed her hand, slowly bringing it up to his lips.
"It was great meeting you as well, Elena."
She blushed as Stefan's eyes narrowed at his brother, and she made her leave.
That was one conversation she didn't regret missing.
Damon watched Elena until her dress disappeared from sight.
"What did you say to her?" Stefan asked immediately.
Damon smirked, turning his eyes back to his brother, "Why? Afraid I might have told her something I shouldn't have?"
"Damon," Stefan warned, "You and I have gone about this many times. Any woman I've brought in that would have you, you took. But this is different. Eleniana isn't some noble woman. She's the princess of Mystic, and your future queen. Don't twist her mind with your games."
Damon cocked his head, "Games? Is that what this is? If she's your betrothed, surely you've already won?"
Stefan set his jaw, "My point, Damon. There is no winning, for this is not a competition. I saw your gaze upon her, and I know her beauty. But this is not a game. She is to be my bride, and you will keep yourself in line."
Damon lifted a brow at the demand, "And who is going to force me to do so? You, Stefan? Do you command me, now? Surely you aren't as ignorant to believe I'd fall to your control so easily."
"I know your power," Stefan assured him, "I have even helped keep it secret. But I'm asking this of you, brother. Leave her be."
Damon's mouth twitched, but he forced a smile, bowing mockingly, "Your words, My hand. I shall stay away from the princess."
"Good," Stefan nodded, "Then we are agreed."
With a final glance, he turned, following Elena's path out.
Damon smirked, "Perfectly agreed brother. I shall stay away from Elena...lest she finds herself unable to stay away from me."
That afternoon, Elena stared out the window of the carriage as it rolled along through the forest path, on the way to town.
Stefan sat by her side.
She'd been a little surprised when he'd come to her, after their meeting in the library, to extend an invitation for her to join him on his trip.
She'd accepted immediately, wanting to keep up pretense, so soon after his near discovery.
Now, as they rode in silence, she'd partly wished she'd stayed behind.
Surely she could have discovered a way to keep herself entertained.
Perhaps even have joined Damon early.
She sighed, wishing it night already.
"Are you alright, your highness?" Stefan asked, having noted her distress.
She smiled kindly, "I've asked you before to call me Elena."
He nodded, his lip turning up, "Forgive me then, Elena. But it is difficult not to give you the respect deserving of a princess."
She crooked her head.
"What of the respect deserving of a prince?"
His brows pulled together, "What is your meaning?"
Elena bit her lip, inwardly cursing herself for speaking up.
But his statement had irked her, and it was too late now.
"Apologies, but I had wondered...Damon is your brother, is he not? Your elder brother?"
Stefan hesitated, then nodded, "Yes. He is."
"No one speaks of him," Elena pointed out, "Nor does he join us at meals...And you are in line for the throne. I could not help but wonder-"
"Why my brother is so far removed?" He finished.
She nodded.
Stefan took a breath, "It is quite complicated. Well, Damon is complicated. He prefers the solidarity over dealing with my father. The two of them...they are both stubborn, willful men, and there is almost always a fight. Damon had no respect for my father's wishes, or for his duties as the crown prince. When my father realized this, he chose not to waste his time, and passed the crown on to me."
Elena felt the urge to defend Damon rise in her, but fought it down.
There was no need to reveal her true emotions.
"Your father deemed him unfit to rule then?"
Stefan nodded, a strange expression clouding his face, and Elena wondered if he might not be telling all the truth. She also wondered if he knew of Damon's powers. It was possible, she assumed, though unlikely, seeing how Damon liked his secrets.
"Damon is unfit to be anything other than what he is," Stefan stated finally, "Count your blessings that I am the heir, and not him, lest you wish to see the walls of our countries burn. There is nothing that Damon cares for more than Damon, and I fear that will never change."
Hope ya'll enjoyed, and can't wait for the reviews :)
Oh, and there was something special about the Delena scene in this chaper...something relating to a past chapter.
Shout out for whoever guesses it ;)